Constitution

THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

CONSTITUTION

SINCE 1958

CONSTITUTION OF THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAPREAMBLE:1. Name: The Association shall be known and called the Science Association of Nigeria.2. Objectives:(i) The Objectives of the Association shall be to foster the pursuit and understanding of Science, especially in Nigeria.(ii) In pursuit of objectives 2 (i) above, the Association’s publications shall provide a means for: reporting results of original research work; recording of officers’ reports, Technical Committee reports, Proceedings of business and general information concerning sections, division and members’ activities.Publications will be administered by a Publications Committee (PUBCO). The Editorial Policy for each publication shall be established by an Editorial Board. Such Editorial Policy shall become a part of the Bye – laws of the Association.As a means of supporting the cost of publishing its journals, the Editor of such Journals may impose page charges as well as for the appearance of advertising material of suitable nature and appropriate to the publication, as defined by the Editorial Board.3. Membership:Membership shall be open to all who will further the object of the association. Application for membership shall be forwarded to Hon. Secretary, with appropriate dues addressed to the treasurer; as may be prescribed from time to time.There shall be six classes of membership:(a) Ordinary members who shall receive all the privileges of membership which shall include the right:(i) To attend meetings of the Association(ii) To vote in the election of Officers and Council(iii) To be eligible for services as officers or on the Council(iv) To receive free (or at a reduced price) the publications of the Association and of the West African Science Association.(v) Any other right as may be prescribed by Council(b) Student Members: Any person who is a registered student of Science in an institution of higher learning is eligible for student membership for a period not exceeding five years. The Head of Department or Supervisor of the student must endorse application for student membership. Student membership must be renewed annually. Student members are entitled to attend meetings of the Association and to receive newsletter only. They are not eligible to vote or to be voted for.(c) Emeritus Members: Any retired person above the age of 60 years who has been an active member in good standing in the Association for at least twenty years is eligible for Emeritus membership status.

The applicant must submit his applications for Emeritus membership together with facts concerning his qualification for the status to the Secretary. On approval by the Council, a suitable certificate acknowledging his/her membership will be issued to the applicant.

(d) Life Members: Anyperson making a payment to the Association of such amount as may be prescribed from time to time and shall have all the priviledges of ordinary members. Another certificate should be issued on payment and recognition as a life member.(e) Corporate members: Any institution or organization which is interested in the object of the association and paying the prescribed dues. Corporate members shall receive the official journals of the association(f) Sustaining members: Any institution or organization making a contribution to the Association of such amount as prescribed from time to time. Sustaining members shall receive the publications of the Association. Acknowledgement of sustaining membership status shall be made by an appropriate certificate.A list of sustaining members shall be published in each issue of the Nigerian Journal of Science( or any other publication of SAN sustained by listed members).4. Dues Subscription and ReinstatementAll dues are payable in advance at the start of each financial year.The financial year of the Association begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. Those who have not paid their dues by March 31 each year shall be notified that they are in arrears and that their names will be dropped from the rolls after one year. Members in arrears of payment for over one financial year shall be required in addition to pay a reinstatement fee of 10% arrears or annual dues.Subscription Annual subscriptions to various classes of membership are: Ordinary members ₦1,500.00 Student Members ₦500.00 Emeritus Members Exempted from dues Corporate Members ₦3.000.00 Sustaining Members ₦50.000.00 Life members: (a) Under 40 years ₦30,000.00 (once and for all payment) (b) Above 40 years ₦25,000.00

Subscription

The (amount of) annual subscriptions for the various classes of membership may be reviewed from time to time by the Annual General Business meeting on the recommendation of council.5. OFFICERS AND COUNCIL(a) The officers of the Association shall consist of the President, the Vice – President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer (and Financial Secretary).(b) The Association shall be governed by a Council consisting of:The elected officers; an elected representative from each specialist Section; the Editors of the Nigerian Journal of Science (NJS) and Bulletin of SAN., Appointed officers, First Hon. Asst. Secretary, Business Manager, eight Ordinary members, and the immediate Past President who shall be in council for one term of office.(c) Nomination and Election of Officers: Nominations for Officers and Council members must reach the Secretary at least 24 hours before the Annual General Business Meeting. Nominations which may be made either by Council or by members of the Association must be signed by the proposer and the person nominated to indicate that he is willing to serve.(d) Elections of Officers and Ordinary Council Members shall take place at the Annual General Business Meeting.(e) Elections of Specialist Section Representatives to the Council 5(b) shall take place at a meeting of each specialist section held during the annual conference.(f) Tenure of Office:(i) The President shall serve for a term (2 years) and eligible for election for another term after which he will retire.(ii) Vice-President shall serve for a term (2 years) and eligible for election for another term after which he will retire.(iii)Ordinary Council Members shall be elected for a period of two terms and shall not be eligible for re-election until 4 years after the end of their term of office.(iv)Representatives from each Specialist Section shall be elected for one term but shall be eligible for immediate re-election for another. Thereafter, they shall not be eligible for re-election until four years has lapsed.(g) Term of Office: For an elected position in the SAN an officer shall serve for two consecutive Calendar years.(h) Council shall have the power to set up Standing or Ad Hoc Committees, The duties of these committees shall be as determined and defined by Council from time to time.(i) Council shall have the power of co-option.6. General Meetings(a) There shall be an Annual Conference at which shall be held the Annual General Business Meeting and meetings for the reading and discussion of papers.(b) Additional meetings for the reading and discussion of papers may be held at the discretion of Council. 7. Specialist SectionsThe Council shall consider for approval applications by groups of members having similar scientific interests to form Specialist Sections. These Specialist Sections shall organize their own activities within the Association, and shall each elect one representative to the Council. 8. Register of Members: The Association shall keep a register of its members with identifiable particulars. 9. Trustees and SealThe trustees of the Association for the purpose of the LAND (Perpetual Succession) Act shall be appointed at any meeting of the Council of the Association.Such trustees (hereinafter referred to as Trustees shall be three in number and shall be known as the “Registered Trustees of the Science Association of Nigeria.”The trustees shall hold office for 5 years after which they will be eligible for re-appointment. Any of them shall cease to be a trustee if he:(i) resigns his office,(ii) ceases to be a member of the Science Association of Nigeria,(iii) becomes insane,(iv) is declared bankrupt under any existing Bankruptcy Laws of Nigeria,(v) is recommended for removal from office by a simple majority of members present at any meeting of the Association called specially to discuss his removal,(vi) ceases to reside in Nigeria.Upon a vacancy occurring in the number of the trustees, a meeting of the Council of the Association will be held to appoint a new trustee to fill the vacancy.The custody of the SEAL of the Association shall be with the Secretary who shall use same on all instruments required by law to be so authenticated and any other documents that the Council of the Association may so direct.10. Amendment of ConstitutionThis constitution may be amended by a General Business Meeting of the Association provided that the amending resolution is passed by a two thirds majority of the members present and voting.STANDING ORDERS FOR THE BUSINESS OF COUNCIL1. Ordinary MeetingsAt least four scheduled meetings of Council shall be held during the year.2. Extra Ordinary MeetingsAt the request of the President, the Hon. Secretary shall convene an emergency or extra-ordinary meeting. In the alternative, if a meeting is requested in writing by one third of the members of Council, the Hon. Secretary, shall, within (7) seven days of receiving such a request call an extra-ordinary meeting of Council which must be held within (14) fourteen days. The request shall specify the business which the said members wish to be considered at the meeting, and no business not so specified shall be transacted at the meeting.3. Notice of Meeting(a) The Secretary shall send a written notice to each member of the Council specifying the day, place and hour of meeting together with a statement of the business to be transacted.(b) The Secretary shall dispatch this notice, at least, 28 days before the meeting.4. Business Proposed by MembersItems for inclusion on the agenda of the Council Meeting must reach the Secretary, at least six weeks before the date of the meeting.5. Quorum(a) The quorum for a Council Meeting of the Association shall be one-third of Council membership.(b) If no quorum is formed within one hour after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned.6. Chairman(a) The President shall be Chairman of the Council Meeting of the Association.(b) In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall act as chairman for the purpose of the meeting.7. Secretary(a) The Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for the keeping of the minutes of the meetings of Council, and for carrying out all correspondence connected with these duties.(b) In the absence of the Secretary from a Council Meeting of the Association, the First Assistant Secretary shall act as Secretary for the purpose of the meeting. If he is also absent, Council shall elect one of its members to act as Secretary for that meeting.8. TreasurerThe Honorary Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association and present statement of accounts at each Ordinary Meeting of Council and Financial report at the AGM.9. Standing Committees of CouncilCouncil shall have the following standing committees:I. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE (F. & G.P.C.)(i) Membership (The committee shall consist of eight (8) members.(a) All FOUR officers of SAN, i.e. President, Vice – President, Secretary and Treasurer.(b) Two other members of Council to be appointed by each new Council at its first business meeting.(c) First Assistant Secretary (who shall also serve as Secretary to the Committee).(d) The Chairman of the local organizing committee of the next annual conference shall be a co-opted member.(President is Chairman, but in his absence the Vice – President)(ii) Terms of ReferenceThe Finance and General Purposes Committee shall run the affairs of the Council between Council meetings. It shall handle the budgetary functions and financial planning of Council, including:(a) Periodic check of the Association’s permanent sources of income(b) Occasional investigation of new sources of revenue(c) Preparation of annual budget(d) Receive and consider reports from other Committees of council(e) Study of the financial implications of projects referred to it by other sub-committees of Council and recommend such to council for approval.(f) Study of the present state and planning of the future development of SAN within the context of the association’s objectives and goals.(g) Report its activities to councilII. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE (PUBCO)(i) Membership The committee shall consist of nine members (9 members)(a) Chairman (Appointed by Council)(b) Editor of NJS(c) Editor of the Bulletin of SAN(d) Business Manager(e) Publicity Secretary(f) Deputy Editor, NJS(g) Deputy Editor, Bulletin of SAN – Secretary to Committee(h) Two other members of SAN, (i.e. not necessarily of Council) to be nominated by each new Council.The Chairman of the Publications Committee shall be co-opted into Council, if she/he does not belong to it.(ii) Terms of ReferenceTo plan, control and supervise the Association’s media for the dissemination of information, news etc.a. To recommend suitable candidates to Council for vacant post of Editors, Deputy Editors, and Business Manager. In exercising this function the committee shall be guided by the criteria laid down by Council.b. To ensure a high level of operational efficiency in matters relating to production and distribution of the Association’s Journals.c. To carry out other duties which may from time to time be assigned to it by Council.III. PROJECTS AND CONFERENCES COMMITTEE (PROJCO)(i) Membership – this shall consists of six (6) members.(a) Chairman – (to be appointed by Council)(b) The second assistant Secretary who shall also serve as Secretary(c) Two other Council members elected by each new Council at its first business meeting.(d) Two other members of SAN who are not members of Council(ii) Terms of Reference(a) To conceive projects, workshops, symposia and conferences worth embarking upon by SAN from year to year and to take care of the organizational details of such projects.(b) To take charge of long – term planning towards annual general conferences of SAN e.g. conference locations, themes, symposia topics etc.IV POPULARIZATION OF SCIENCE COMMITTEE (POPSCO)Membership – it shall consist of six members (6)(a) Chairman (appointed by Council)(b) Publicity Secretary who shall also serve as Secretary(c) Two members nominated from Council(d) Two other members (non-members of Council) on the same campus or locality with the Chairman.Terms of Reference(a) To plan, cost and implement programmes essential for increased awareness and interest in Science.(b) To organize Science fairs, quizzes and other relevant exhibitions in order to promote the study of science and the development and use of technology.(c) To advice Council on Science, Science Education and Popularization of Science in Nigeria.V. HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (HACO)(i) Membership – this shall consists of fourteen (14) members.(a) One representing each of the ten Specialist Sections of the Science Association of Nigeria. The 14th member shall be appointed by Council and he shall be Chairman of the committee. He shall have a mandatory tenure of one term. Thereafter, he may not be re-nominated until expiration of another tenure.(b) Fifty percent of the committee member shall be appointed by council each year staggered every two year.(c) The Hon. Secretary of SAN shall be the Secretary to the Committee. He shall have no vote.(d) The Committee shall have power to co-opt any member or members of SAN who in its judgement can assist it in the final selection of award winners.(ii) Terms of Reference(a) To invite nominations for the various awards from Association members at the appropriate time.(b) To clear the standing of each candidate nominated with the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer of SAN.(c) To recommend to Council for approval candidates found suitable for various distinguished award such as Fellow of Distinguished Achievement Award, Memorial Series Lecturer Award and any other awards established by Council according to the criteria laid down for the award.(d) To submit to Council the names, brief bio-data and curriculum vitae of recommended candidates for consideration.(e) To prepare appropriate recitation for awardeesSTANDING ORDERS FOR ANNUAL GENERAL BUSINESS MEETINGS OF THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA1. Ordinary MeetingsThe Annual General Business Meeting shall be held during the Annual Conference as provided in the Constitution.2. Extraordinary Business MeetingsIf requested in writing by any 25 members of the Association, the Honorary Secretary shall within 7 days after receiving such a request call an Extraordinary General Business Meeting of the Association and the meeting shall hold within 21 days. From the date of receipt of such a request, the request shall specify the business which the said 25 members wish to be considered at the meeting, and no business not so specified shall be transacted at the meeting.3. Notice of Meeting(a) The Secretary shall send a written notice to each member of the Association specifying the day, place and hour of meeting together with a statement of the business to be transacted.(b) This notice shall be dispatched by the Secretary, at least, 28 days before the meeting.4. Business Proposed by MembersItems for inclusion on the agenda of the Annual General Business Meeting must reach the Secretary, at least six weeks before the date of the meeting.5. Quorum(a) The quorum for a General Business Meeting of the Association shall be 30 members(b) If no quorum is present within one hour after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned.6. Chairman(a) The President shall be Chairman of the Business Meeting of the Association.(b) In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall act as Chairman for the purpose of the meeting.(c) In the absence of the President and Vice-President the meeting shall elect a member of the Council of the Association to act as Chairman for the purpose of the meeting.7. TreasurerThe Honorary Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association and present an audited statement of accounts at the Annual General Business Meeting.8. AuditorAuditor shall be appointed at the Annual General Business Meeting for auditing the Association’s statement of accounts.9. Order of BusinessThe order of Business at Ordinary General Business Meetings, unless the meeting resolves otherwise, shall be as follows:(a) Election, when necessary, of a member of Council to act as Chairman for the purpose of the meeting.(b) Election, when necessary, of a member to act as Secretary for the purpose of the meeting.(c) Confirmation and signature by the Chairman of the minutes of the previous meeting.(d) Business arising out of the minutes of the previous meeting unless such business has been separately included in the business announced.(e) Correspondence requiring the attention of the Business Meeting.(f) Business announced with the notice of the meeting.(g) Other business not announced if the meeting agrees to discuss it.10. Voting(a) Voting at General Business Meeting shall be by a show of hands, except for elections, when a secret ballot of the members present shall be held.(b) Resolution shall be passed by a simple majority of those present and voting.(c) If the voting be equal there shall be a re-vote. If votes are equal a second time, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.11. Casual Vacancies(a) A vacancy of an officer of the Association or of a member of Council caused by death or resignation may be filled by Council, the appointee serving only until the next Annual General Business Meeting.(b) A vacancy caused by the temporary absence of an officer may be filled by Council among its members, the appointee acting only until the return to duty of the officer concerned.(c) The appointment of a member to a vacancy shall not be considered as an election.12. AmendmentThese standing orders may be amended at a General Business Meeting provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members at least 28 days before the meeting.FELLOWS OF SAN1. There shall be an honours list of members to be designated FELLOWS of the SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (FSAN)2. Criteria for electing Fellows(a) Active Membership of SAN for at least five years.(b) Exceptional service to SAN and to Science:Exceptional service to SAN and to Science may be rendered by serving on important national committee or in the Science Association of Nigeria, or by strengthening science through significant personal efforts in direction of high quality research.(c) Eminence in ResearchExceptional contribution in this category may result from:(i) A number of truly landmark works;(ii) Steady production of high quality work over a period of years, probably 8-10 years;(iii) Exceptional work as recognized by SAN or by other organizations and evidence by invitations to lecture, chair sessions, special awards, etc.(d) Teaching of ScienceExceptional contribution may consist of truly distinguished teaching of a branch of science authorship of outstanding textbooks, important innovations in science education etc.(e) Honorary Fellow (H. FSAN): contribution to Science through establishment of industries: funding of scientific research and private sector development.3. Rules and Regulations(a) Members of SAN shall nominate candidates for the Fellowship and the Council of SAN shall elect them.(b) Thirty copies of the curriculum vitae of a candidate, prepared in accordance with approved format, will be required.(c) The number of Fellows shall not exceed five per cent of the total paid up membership of SAN as of last AGM.(d) Council shall determine what the five per cent is in actual number at its first meeting after December 31, and the Secretary shall invite nominations immediately afterwards, with a closing date 3 months after the previous AGM.(e) Fellowship shall be for life, commencing from the date of induction into the Fellowship.(f) Fellows may use the letters F.S.A.N. (Fellow of the Science Association of Nigeria) after their names.(g) There shall be a “Books of Records” containing the current list of Fellows and their Curriculum vitae. A copy of the Book will be kept by the Hon. Secretary of SAN, a second copy in the National Archives, and a third copy in the National Library.AFFILIATIONThe Association is affiliated to the West African Science Association and all full members of SAN are automatically members of W.A.S.A. and receive its journal. The Association publishes such journals, monographs and handbooks as will best bring together the contributions to national scientific knowledge, and encourage the advancement and recognition of science and technology.CURRENT SECTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS OF SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA(a) PUBLICATIONS(i) The Nigerian Journal of Science, (ii) Bulleting of SAN (iii) and SAN Newsletter.(b) CURRENT SECTIONSThe current list of disciplines in the association are:(i) Agriculture(ii) Biochemistry(iii) Botany(iv) Chemistry(v) Earth Sciences(vi) Engineering(vii) Forestry(viii) Information Science / Technology(ix) Mathematics(x) Medical Sciences(xi) Microbiology(xii) Physics(xiii) Zoology